3 Worst Chargers Contracts to Overcome This Offseason

2. Joey Bosa, LB

Linebacker Joey Bosa heads into his ninth season in the NFL. He was selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. The 28-year-old brings a physical run defender onto the field and has a nice combination of power and speed to get past offensive linemen.

Since 2016, Bosa has ranked 10th in the NFL in sacks (67), including four seasons with double-digit sacks. His constant production led him to lock down an extension. In 2020, Bosa agreed to terms on a five-year, $135 million deal. The injuries have crept up on Bosa over the past few years. In 2022, the Ohio State product suffered a groin tear that forced him to miss 12 games.

The injuries followed him in 2023. He had a sprained foot and was placed on injured reserve. That made him miss eight matchups. Bosa is now another member of the defensive unit who is getting a boatload of money.

He is on the hook to make $36.6 million in 2024, which is a huge number. If they parted ways with Bosa in the offseason, it would clear $14.4 million in cap space. Unfortunately, Los Angeles will get hit with a $22.2 million dead cap hit but the salary cap space situation is dire in Los Angeles.

It's never easy to get rid of your high-end talent but the circumstances with the Chargers present different obstacles to overcome.